Hospital staff launch appeal for new bereavement suite

A MAJOR fund-raising appeal to fund a new bereavement suite at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital’s maternity unit has been launched.

Hospital chiefs hope to raise £60,000 to fund the suite which will provide a private space for parents who have experienced the tragedy of a stillbirth or the loss of their baby post-birth.

The new venue will be in addition to the existing Fay Turner suite which will also be refurbished during the work.

The funds will go towards converting an existing room in the maternity department into a suitable space which will include a kitchen area and access into the memorial garden, as well as fixtures and furnishings.

County couple Becky Yarranton and her partner Paul Dancyger are supporting the campaign, having benefited from the existing suite in January 2016, following the stillbirth of their son Henry.

“The Fay Turner Suite provided a space for our family to see Henry, and for us to say goodbye to him,” Becky said.

“We stayed for two days – although at all times it was made clear that we could stay as long as we wanted to.

“It meant so much to us that our family could come and see Henry, and the staff couldn’t do enough for us,” she added.

Paul added: “Henry was bought to us in a cuddle cot – he was perfect, just like his older brother Max.

“Then when the time was right we said our goodbyes. Without those two days we’d have nothing to remember him by. It can’t heal the pain but it helped build real memories,” he added.

Trudy Berlet, Bereavement Support Midwife at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We know from the conversations we have with parents how important these suites are – a space for mothers, partners and family to go, away from the noise and bustle of the nearby maternity ward.

“We are very fortunate to have already received huge support from the local community and have £10,000 already in the fund towards these works.

“Now we are looking for an extra £50,000 so that we can go ahead with the works required to provide an additional suite as soon as possible,” she added.

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